Variations in History and Transmission
The challenge of history is to recover the past and introduce it to the present. Or, as Pearl S. Buck said, "If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday."
There are a number of alternative histories written about the origins of Chu Gar, even by its own gatekeepers in China. I will elaborate briefly below.
In every scenario, there is a wandering monk at the turn of the 20th century who receives or transmits Chu Gar Mantis. More about that later.
There is no Chow Gar in China except from the late Grandteacher Yip Sui. More about that below and here.
Variations in the History and Transmission of Chu Gar Mantis
Standard Chu Gar Version
Wong Leng, a Monk
Chu (Zhu) An Nam
Chu's son, Chu Jin
Wong Fook Go, a wandering Monk
Lao Sui
*Wong Fook Go is said to have trained several others, including Yang Sao, at the Guan Yin Pavilion, at the same time that Lao Sui was taught.
Chow Gar Version
Sim Yan, a Monk
Chow An Nam
Wong Fook Go
Lao Sui
Yip Sui
East River Version
Mysterious Zen Monk
Chu An Nam
Chu Jin, the son of An Nam
Wong Fook Go
Lao Sui
Kwongsai Mantis Version of Chu Gar
Two Originators - Wong Leng and Monk Lee Siem Yuen
Chu Bot Long
Chu An Nam
Lao Sui
Iron Ox Version
In China, same as Kwongsai Mantis Version
Our Association Lineage
- Lao Sui
- Chu Kwong Hua
- Cheng Wan (passed 2009)
- Present Day
Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all: the conscientious historian will correct these defects. ~Herodotus,
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